iso

Windows 10 Creators Update Build 15048 ISO images available now

If you’re thinking of joining the Windows 10 Insider program, or you just want to do a clean install with an up to date version of Windows 10, the good news is Microsoft has released a new ISO image.

The image, for Build 15048, is available to all, and you can download it now. This build rolled out to Insiders on the Fast ring twelve days ago so it's not the latest release -- that would be Build 15058, which Microsoft released yesterday -- but it includes a lot of important bug fixes, and a Windows Mixed Reality demo you can try.

By Wayne Williams -
Windows-10 key

Windows 10 Creators Update Build 15058 for PC arrives on the Fast ring

The Windows 10 Creators Update is only a matter of weeks away from launch now, and Microsoft is working hard to get the OS ready for release.

Preview Build 15055 rolled out to Insiders on the Fast ring last Friday, and today we have another new build for PC (a new Mobile build is expected to arrive later in the week).

By Wayne Williams -
Vista

PSA: Time to leave Windows Vista behind -- extended support ends in April

Windows Vista is probably the least-liked version of Windows that Microsoft has ever released, but, fact of the matter is, the 10 year old operating system has its fans, as it still runs on many PCs today. And that's a problem if you're part of the crowd, because next month it will stop receiving any kind of official support, leaving you exposed.

Mainstream support for Windows Vista actually ended on April 10, 2012, but Microsoft has since continued to offer support options and updates as part of its extended support phase. That will come to an end in less than 30 days from now -- on April 11. Here's what happens after that.

By Mihăiță Bamburic -
Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams rolls out to Office 365 users around the world

As we reported last week, Microsoft is today launching its own business collaboration tool in an effort to fend off the challenge from Slack.

Teams is now available to Office 365 users in 181 markets and 19 languages. Where Teams is likely to score over its competitors is in its close integration with other Office products and with Skype for Business.

By Ian Barker -
Pi Day

Happy Pi Day: Microsoft offering Pi-related savings on select PCs and Xbox One games

It’s Pi Day -- March 14 or 3/14 --  and to celebrate, Microsoft is offering money off select PCs and Xbox One games both in-store and online.

The deals being offered are all Pi-related, so the sale price, or discount, is some variation of Pi's opening digits -- 314.

By Wayne Williams -
skype_logo

Updated Skype extension for Chrome brings one-click Skype integration to calendars, emails and Twitter

Microsoft is pushing out an update to its Skype extension for Chrome, bringing a host of new features to a range of online services. The update means that you can add Skype call links to emails, calendar events, and social media postings with a single click.

With support for Gmail, Google Inbox, Outlook.com, Google Calendar and Twitter, Microsoft is clearly trying to cover a lot of bases. Twitter is arguably something of a strange choice, but by embracing rival Google services, Microsoft is clearly keen to make Skype more accessible for as many people as possible.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
MOD-74902_Hyperscale-GPU-Acelerator Nvidia Microsoft

Microsoft and Nvidia unveil HGX-1 hyperscale GPU accelerator

Blueprints for a new hyperscale GPU accelerator have been introduced recently, jointly by Microsoft and NVIDIA. The two companies are saying the accelerator would "drive AI cloud computing."

The accelerator is called HGX-1 hyperscale GPU. It is released in conjunction with Microsoft’s Project Olympus, as an open-source design.

By Sead Fadilpašić -
basketball March Madness

Build a better March Madness 2017 NCAA Tournament Bracket with Microsoft's Bing

For many, March is just another month in the calendar year. For basketball fans, however, it is significant for one big reason -- the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, otherwise known as "March Madness." Only the best college teams make the cut, making it an exciting elimination tournament. It is a great way to see future professional players in a pressure situation -- some of them will play in the coveted NBA.

Watching basketball aside, another fun aspect of the tournament is the bracket challenges. You see, many people like to predict who will win each matchup, and ultimately, which team will become the champion. If you think that sounds easy, trust me, it is much harder than you think, with quintillions of possibilities. Heck, some of these folks bet real money on it. Today, Microsoft announces that its Bing Predicts service can help people create "smarter" brackets. In other words, using the power of data, you could possibly increase your chances.

By Brian Fagioli -
Patch download

Decrease in patch rates points to broken software supply chain

Vulnerabilities in software are at the heart of many security problems, providing a foothold for hackers that they can use to gain access to systems.

The latest Vulnerability Review from the Secunia Research arm of Flexera Software maps the security threat presented to IT infrastructures and explores vulnerabilities in the 50 most popular applications on private PCs.

By Ian Barker -
Jamboard01

Google reveals Jamboard price and release date

If you're looking for an alternative to Microsoft's Surface Hub, Google has just the thing for you. Unveiled last October, Jamboard is a 55-inch whiteboard featuring a 4K touchscreen display, HD camera, speakers and integration with the search giant's G Suite productivity apps.

Google did not initially reveal how much it will cost or when it will be available, but the company now says that it will be priced just shy of $5,000 and will be released in just a couple of months.

By Mihăiță Bamburic -
windows-10-dvd

Microsoft is disgustingly sneaky: Windows 10 isn't an operating system, it's an advertising platform

Don't believe what Microsoft tells you -- Windows 10 is not an operating system. Oh, sure, it has many features that make it look like an operating system, but in reality it is nothing more than a vehicle for advertisements. Since the launch of Windows 10, there have been numerous complaints about ads in various forms. They appear in the Start menu, in the taskbar, in the Action Center, in Explorer, in the Ink Workspace, on the Lock Screen, in the Share tool, in the Windows Store and even in File Explorer.

Microsoft has lost its grip on what is acceptable, and even goes as far as pretending that these ads serve users more than the company -- "these are suggestions", "this is a promoted app", "we thought you'd like to know that Edge uses less battery than Chrome", "playable ads let you try out apps without installing". But if we're honest, the company is doing nothing more than abusing its position, using Windows 10 to promote its own tools and services, or those with which it has marketing arrangements. Does Microsoft think we're stupid?

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows-10 key

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Creators Update Build 15055 for PC and Mobile to the Fast ring

Last week, Microsoft pushed out multiple Windows 10 Insider Preview updates -- Builds 15046 and 15048 for PC, and 15047 for Mobile. Yesterday, Mobile users got Build 15051, and today the software giant announces Build 15055 for both PC and Mobile.

The flurry of new builds shows we’re getting ever closer to the launch of the Creators Update which is due next month.

By Wayne Williams -
Windows relief

Microsoft admits mistake, pulls problematic Windows 10 driver

Microsoft pushed out a mysterious driver to Windows users on Wednesday that caused big problems for some.

The driver, listed as "Microsoft -- WPD -- 2/22/2016 12:00:00 AM -- 5.2.5326.4762," wasn’t accompanied by any details, although we knew from the name that it related to Windows Portable Devices and affected users who had phones and tablets connected to the OS.

By Wayne Williams -
Angry PC

Oh joy -- playable ads arrive in Windows 10

Playable ads -- that is ads that mimic an app and let you interact with it -- aren’t new. I see them from time to time on my iPhone, and never interact with any of them. Because, why would you? However, Microsoft says that playable ads are not only better than regular ads, they are more profitable.

And now they are arriving on Windows 10. The Playable Ads preview goes live in the Windows Dev Center today, allowing developers to offer their own interactive adverts.

By Wayne Williams -
Scorpio

Project Scorpio next-generation Xbox gaming console debuts in Microsoft Store

There is a new trend in console gaming, where existing consoles are enhanced rather than replaced. For instance, the Xbox One S and PlayStation 4 Pro aren't really new consoles, but upgrades of the current generation. They may have new features, but they play the exact same games.

Microsoft's next generation of video game console is currently called "Project Scorpio." This will be a truly new console, although it will be backwards compatible with all Xbox One games -- nice. In fact, you will even be able to use your Xbox One controllers and other accessories. While we do not have a definitive date of when it will go on sale, today the next Xbox console makes its debut in the Microsoft Store. We even get a slightly better idea of when it will be in stores.

By Brian Fagioli -
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